216: Subjugating the Aoki Clan

The scorching sun hung high, and a line of tattered Senmu Clan members trudged along a sandy road.

Their hands and feet were shackled with heavy iron chains, linking them in a line. Many walked barefoot on the scorching sand, their faces showing pain.

“Water… water…”

A bare-chested, lean Senmu Clan elder's lips were cracked, and he swayed precariously.

Crack—

A flying whip mercilessly lashed his back, immediately tearing his skin and flesh. He fell face down to the ground, and trickles of fresh blood flowed down his spine into the sand, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

A ruffian, dressed in wide-robed Sect attire, spat and growled, “Old geezer, what are you playing dead for! Get up!”

A powerful kick landed on the elder's waist, but his body was limp, and no sound escaped his mouth.

“Damn it, another one dead…”

A ChangSheng Medicine Sect Disciple nearby spat, then kicked the dead elder several feet away.

“What are you afraid of? They’re just slaves.

As long as the losses aren't too great, the Sect won't care.”

In the Sacred Realm, weakness was the original sin.

It was even more common for talented races to be plundered and sold as slaves.

Suddenly, a figure appeared high in the sky.

Gu Changsheng looked down with cold eyes: “Over three thousand people… barely enough…”

Then his eyes sharpened, and an illusory shadow of the Demonic Path appeared behind him. The power of the Hell Path unfolded, and a terrifying, extremely evil purgatory enveloped the entire team.

“Oh no! Enemy attack!”

“Quickly form a battle array!”

“Bastard, who dares to offend my ChangSheng Medicine Sect.

Are you tired of living!”

Seven or eight ChangSheng Medicine Sect Disciples quickly surrounded the area, pulling out their Magic Treasures and looking around in terror.

Whoosh—

A cold roar, countless ghostly figures crawled out from beneath the yellow sand, extending their pale bone hands to attack.

Talismans, Sword Qi, secret technique flames… the seven or eight ChangSheng Medicine Sect Disciples fought desperately, but they were still outnumbered and were soon completely devoured by the vengeful spirits.

In the Void Realm, flames swirled, and a figure vaguely appeared.

“A few True Core Realm Disciples… do they think they can be fearless just because they come from a Yang Shen Great Sect… However, this place is not far from the ChangSheng Medicine Sect's dominion, so I must leave quickly…”

Whoosh—

The external Demonic Path suddenly extended its eight-armed hand, sweeping up the sky-high yellow sand. With a suction from its palm, thousands of Senmu Clan members rapidly shrunk and gathered in its hand.

Gu Changsheng's feet shot out a streak of light, and he instantly fled into the distance.

Dozens of breaths later, several astonishing auras appeared in the Void Realm, each belonging to a Profound Cave Cultivator.

“Damn it, who dares to kill my ChangSheng Medicine Sect's true successor!”

“Bastard, I, this Old Man, will dig three feet deep today and make you pay blood for blood!”

An old man with white hair and beard closed his eyes tightly. A golden light bloomed from his glabella, and a crack suddenly opened, scanning the surroundings. The image of vengeful spirits rampant earlier appeared in his mind.

“Senior Brother He, did your Pure Extinction Dharma Eye see the killer's face?” the gray-clothed, red-faced old man asked anxiously.

Three breaths later, the white-haired old man's eyes were complex, and he sighed softly: “The culprit was very cautious, hiding behind the scenes from beginning to end and not showing his face.

However, his aura seems to be fleeing towards the far west.”

“Chase!”

Several Elders shot off towards the far west.

In a distant southwestern corner, space rippled like a mirror, and a person emerged from it.

“I've changed direction dozens of times, so they shouldn't be able to track me anymore…”

Gu Changsheng, expressionless, entered a nearby city and safely used a teleportation Formation to travel to Guangyuan Grotto-heaven on Demon Subduing Mountain.

Several days later.

Guangyuan Grotto-heaven.

A crack opened in the Void Realm, and thousands of Senmu Clan members fell into a soft flower field.

“Where is this?”

“Azure Nether Spirit Spring, Golden Flower patches, and many spirit fish in the water…”

“Oh my goodness, I'm not dreaming, am I?”

The Senmu Clan members looked at the Grotto-heaven, which resembled a fairyland, with faces full of shock and joy.

Having been hungry for several days, they all jumped into the nearby Azure Nether Spirit Spring, drinking heartily from the spring water, cutting branches from nearby trees, and catching spirit fish.

Before long, bonfires were set on the ground, and the fragrant smell of roasted fish made the Senmu Clan members swallow their saliva uncontrollably.

“Clan Chief, here…”

A strong Senmu Clan member took a roasted fish from a wooden branch and handed it to the white-bearded old man nearby.

“Good…”

The old man took it and bit into it. The tender, sweet fish meat entered his mouth, steaming hot. Before he could chew, it slid down his esophagus into his stomach. A warm current rose in his stomach, and his pale complexion immediately softened a bit.

He raised his head, a glimmer of spiritual light appearing in his eyes, and saw the palace above the Nine Heavens Protective Aura.

“This seems to be a Grotto-heaven world…”

Suddenly, a giant palm appeared in the sky. Amidst the cries of terror from the crowd, it grabbed the old man and swept him towards the horizon.

Inside the main hall.

“Grandpa…”

Gong Lin screamed and ran towards the white-haired old man.

“Gong Lin…”

The two reunited. The white-haired old man's excited old eyes shed turbid tears, and in his surprise, he noticed a gentle, jade-like Young Master in green robes standing nearby.

Although his cultivation was almost completely crippled, he still had some discerning insight.

This kind of demeanor could only be possessed by a Profound Cave Cultivator.

“Thank you, Senior, for saving us… This Old Man, Gong Xiao, will surely repay Senior's kindness with my entire clan.”

Gong Xiao prostrated himself heavily on the ground until blood seeped from his forehead.

His body, however, was subtly trembling.

Who knew if this Young Master in green robes was a good person?

He could only take a gamble.

When facing a superior, one must be submissive.

Gu Changsheng smiled faintly: “You, Old Man, are quite interesting.”

How could he not see Gong Xiao's little scheme?

Then his eyes sharpened and he said: “I heard that the Senmu Clan offered a worldwide sacrifice and merged into the Sacred Realm.

All Senmu Clan members actively infected themselves with Devilish Qi, purified their Demonic bodies, and transformed into the Sacred Race.

Why don't you follow suit?”

Upon hearing this, Gong Xiao's face became solemn, and a hint of Evil Qi appeared on his face: “Transform into the Sacred Race… My Azure Wood lineage, even if the entire clan is annihilated, will not emulate those traitors.”

“Oh, from what you say, there seems to be a hidden story within the Senmu Clan…”

“To tell you the truth, Senior, this old man was originally a branch of the Azure Wood Royal Family.

The Senmu Realm originally had four Yang Spirit Realm Great Masters, each corresponding to a royal lineage.

That day, the three great Yang Spirit Realm old dogs ambushed my Azure Wood lineage's Yang Spirit Realm Old Ancestor and forcibly sacrificed the world, merging it into the Sacred Realm.

They… are all sinners who betrayed my Senmu Clan!

They even captured us as slaves, sold us cheaply, and killed us at will…”

By the end of his speech, Gong Xiao was gritting his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred.

“You all do have some integrity.”

Gu Changsheng nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

The Sacred Realm was vast and boundless, encompassing all races, yet there were very few races that held fast to their own kind, unwilling to be infected by Devilish Qi and transform into the Sacred Race.

The Human Race at the foot of the mountain was one such branch.

The Azure Wood lineage of the Senmu Clan before him was another.

Gu Changsheng spoke: “From now on, you will live here and manage the Grotto-heaven for this Seat.

During this time, you must contribute your vital blood and Lifespan to assist this Seat in cultivating demonic spirit flowers.

As for Gong Lin… her talent far surpasses that of ordinary Senmu Clan members. This Seat will personally instruct her, and after she achieves a Breakthrough to the True Core Realm, she will then cultivate demonic spirit flowers.”

Upon hearing this, Gong Xiao's expression immediately softened slightly.

It was pretty much what he had expected; the person before him had saved his clan, so naturally, he had a request.

The Senmu Clan's ability to cultivate spiritual plants was an innate racial talent.

They were naturally close to plants and, without training, could all be considered Great Masters of horticulture.

Cultivating spiritual plants required the consumption of vital blood, and even Lifespan, but if there were a large amount of Heaven And Earth Treasure to replenish vital blood, the loss of clan members shouldn't be too great.

Most importantly, he had no choice.

‘It's just… Lin'er…’

Gu Changsheng waved his large hand, blowing the pensive Gong Xiao out of the hall, and brought the little girl into his sleeve. Then his figure disappeared from the Grotto-heaven, reappearing in a small mountain village.

In the courtyard, a child of seven or eight, roughly the same age as Gong Lin, was wielding a wooden sword. Its sharp edge split falling leaves in half.

“Hmm? Revered Master, you're back.”

Su Shuisheng noticed the commotion, turned around, and said joyfully. His gaze swept over, and he saw the little girl next to Gu Changsheng.

“She is…”

“Shuisheng, meet your Junior Sister.”

Su Shuisheng saw that the little girl's ears were long and narrow, making her seem quite peculiar, but her appearance was delicate and beautiful, like a doll carved from pink jade. His heart immediately filled with goodwill.

“Junior Sister… wait for me…”

Su Shuisheng put down the wooden sword in his hand and scurried back home.

Just as Gu Changsheng was wondering, he saw him running back with a plate of steaming buns, a smile radiating from his face.

“Junior Sister, these are red bean paste buns, they're really sweet, here…”

Gong Lin sniffed the wafting fragrance, unable to help but swallow.

These past few days, she had eaten irregularly, and by now, she was already famished.

She extended her slender, scallion-like fingers to take one, and gently bit into it. The rich red bean paste spilled out from the opening into her mouth.

“Mmm, so sweet.”